Dave O'Brien (actor)

Dave O'Brien
O'Brien in Reefer Madness (1936)
Born
David Poole Fronabarger

(1912-05-31)May 31, 1912
Big Spring, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 8, 1969(1969-11-08) (aged 57)
OccupationActor
Years active1930–1969
Children5[1]

Dave O'Brien (born David Poole Fronabarger; May 31, 1912 – November 8, 1969) was an American film actor, stunt man, film director, and Emmy awarded comedy writer.[2] In Hollywood, he was known as an innovative stunt man, among other of his talents.[3] He was well known for his portrayal, in the 1942 serial films of the children's hero, the aviator, Captain Midnight (serial), performer and comedy writer in the Pete Smith Specialties and as one of Red Skelton's comedy writers.[4]

Life and career

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Born in Big Spring, Texas, to Mike Fronabarger and his wife, Mary Edith, he started his film career performing in choruses and working as a stunt double, then graduating into larger roles, mostly in B pictures. He adopted "O'Brien" as his acting pseudonym. He had roles in early Western movies such as Lightnin' Crandall (1937).[3]

O'Brien acted in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy short film series Pete Smith Specialties. O'Brien wrote and directed many of these subjects under the name David Barclay.[4] In 1933, O'Brien also had a small dancing part with Bebe Daniels in the Busby Berkeley musical 42nd Street. O'Brien portrayed a frantic drug abuser in the 1936 anti-drug film Tell Your Children (better known under its reissue title, Reefer Madness).

He appeared in several of the East Side Kids films.[5] He appeared in low-budget Westerns, such as Producers Releasing Corporation's Texas Rangers series, billed as "Tex O'Brien".[4]

In 1940, he appeared in Queen of the Yukon, The Devil Bat with Bela Lugosi, and Son of the Navy. In 1942, he starred in the fifteen episode movie serial Captain Midnight. In 1944, were roles in a series of Westerns, some of which were the Billy the Kid serials, and serials The Texas Rangers, a lead role in Brand of the Devil.[4] In 1945, he appeared in The Man Who Walked Alone. By 1953, he was in the MGM musical Kiss Me, Kate.

Recognition and writing career, death

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As a comedy writer for The Red Skelton Show, O'Brien shared an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1961. Then, shared a nomination for the same award in 1963.[6] At the time of his demise in 1969, Mr. O'Brien was a "top television comedy writer" on the Red Skelton Hour.[4]

Selected filmography

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Selected short subjects

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Year Title Role Notes
1942 Calling All Pa's Joe Thunderstruck
1943 First Aid Crandall K. Krumb, the Husband
1943 Seventh Column Falstaff Pratt Uncredited
1944 Movie Pests Feet-in-the-Aisle-Pest Uncredited
1944 Safety Sleuth Careless Man Uncredited
1946 Treasures From Trash Alonzo T. Mousebrain Director and Screenplay Writer as David Barclay
1946 Sure Cures Xavier T. Schneckendorf Director and Screenplay Writer as David Barclay
1946 I Love My Husband, BUT! The Husband Director as David Barclay, Dorothy Short appears as his Wife
1947 I Love My Wife, BUT! The Husband Director as David Barclay, Dorothy Short appears as his Wife
1947 Have You Ever Wondered Main Character Director and Screenplay Writer as David Barclay
1948 I Love My Mother-in-Law, But... The Husband Director as David Barclay, Dorothy Short as his Wife, and Anne O'Neal as the Mother-in-Law
1948 Ice Aces Director as David Barclay
1948 You Can't Win Harried Homeowner Director and Screenplay Writer as David Barclay
1948 Let's Cogitate Director and Screenplay Writer as David Barclay
1949 Just Suppose The Dad Director as David Barclay
1950 Did'ja Know? Main Character Director as David Barclay
1950 Wrong Way Butch Wrong Way Butch Director as David Barclay
1952 I Love Children But... The Dad/Papa Schlemiel Director and Writer as David Barclay
1953 Things We Can Do Without Thaddeus E. Thud Director and Writer as David Barclay
1954 Ain't it Aggravatin' Main Character Director and Writer as David Barclay
1954 Do Someone a Favor George Dibson Director and Writer as David Barclay
1954 Out for Fun Businessman seeking relaxation Director and Writer as David Barclay

References

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  1. ^ Anderson, Chuck. "Dave O'Brien". www.b-westerns.com.
  2. ^ "Dave O'Brien - Hollywood Walk of Fame". Official Website of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. 1960-02-08. Retrieved 2024-08-11. Dave O'Brien was an American film actor, director and writer.
  3. ^ a b Freese, Gene Scott (2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s–1970s: A Biographical Dictionary, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476614700. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e Cline, William C. (1984). In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 92, 94, 101, 163, 216, 221, 230, 232, 274. ISBN 9780899501017. page 101 'At the time of his death in 1969, Dave was a top television comedy writer on the wacky Red Skelton Hour.'
  5. ^ Hayes, David; Walker, Brent (1984). The Films of the Bowery Boys. Secaucus, NJ: The Citadel Press. pp. 57, 58, 74. ISBN 0-8065-0931-7.
  6. ^ "Awards Search". EMMYS. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 2018-10-28. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Tell Your Children (1936) - Full Credits - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
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